Steam-supply means for locomotive cylinders



S. H- LEWIS. STEAM SUPPLY MEANS FOR LOCOMOTIVE CYLINDERS- APPHCATIONFILED JULY 29.1919.

Patented Dec. 12, 1922*.

4 SHEETSSHEET l.

S. H. LEWIS. STEAM SUPPLY MEANS FOR LOCOMOTIVE GYLINDERS. APPLICATIONFILED JULY 29,1919.

1,438,928, Patented Dec. 12, 1922 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- S. H. LEWIS. STEAMSUPPLY MEANS FOR LOCOMOTIVE CYLINDERS.

APPLICATION H LED JQJLY 29.1919.

Patented Dec. 12, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- s. H. LEWIS. STEAM SUPPLY MEANS FOR LQCOMOTIVECYLINDERS.

APPLECA ION FILED JULY 29.1919.

Patented Dec. 12, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEE1 4.

Patented Dec. 12, 1922.

SAI/IUEL H. LEVIIS, 0F RICHMOND, ViRG-INIA.

STEAM-SUPPLY MEANS FOR LOCOMOTIVE CYLINDERS.

Application filed July 29,

To aZZ whom it may concern: i

Be it known that l, SAMUEL H. Lnwrs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam- Supply Meansfor Locomotive Cylinders, of which the following is a specification.

lviy invention relates to fiuid'pressure opcrated apparatus, forsupplying steam to the cylinder or cylinders of a railway loco-, motive,when the main supply ofsteam is cut off therefrom. and the engine isdrifting by gravity or inertia.

its is well known, railway locomotives. are frequently operated withsuperheated steam, whichis heated to a temperature of (3M. #00 F. Thishigh temperature steam heats the walls of the cylinders of the en-- glueto a. high temperature, so thatthe oil is burned or flashed, upon theintroduction of air, smoke box gases and cinders', into the i xlinder orcylinders. Thus air, gas and mint crs are drawn into the cylinder orcylinders, when the main supply of steam is cut off, and the engine istraveling or drifting; above a comparatively low speed, aspar vacuun'isare then ordinarily created within the cylinders. it is obvious that.the intake of air and the like into the cylinders may be prevented bythe presence of a suitable amount of steam in such cylinders, when themain supply is cut off and the-engine is drifting. i

an important object of the invention is to prc'u'ide automatic means, inno way actuated by vacuums within the cylinders of: the locomotive, tosupply steam to the cylinders so that vacuums can not be producedtherein. i

.l further object of the invention is to provide automatic means to openthe steam valve, which supplies the drifting steam to. the cylinders,and retainthe same perms; uenilv open, during the travel of thelocomotive above a preileterminedspeed, and to cause the steam valve toclose when the locomotive slows down to a predetermined speed, and toretain the same closed when with steam when. the locomotive is drifting1919. Serial No. 314,101,

at speeds which would cause the creation of vacuums, and automaticallycut off from the supply of steam sufiiciently early to permit of thelocomotivecoming to a stop with no steam remaining in the cylinders. Afurther object of the invention is .to provide means whereby the amountof steam admitted to the cylinders while drifting is varied inaccordance with the speed ofthe locomotive within certain limits.

A further object of the invention is to,

embodying my invention, showing the same applied to a railwaylocomotive,

Figure 2 is" an enlarged central vertical sectional view through thecontrol apparatus, parts being showninelevation,

Figure 8 is an edge elevation oftlie body.

portion of the control apparatus, taken at a right angle, to Figure 2, iwith parts omitted; i Figure i is a horizontal sectional :view,

taken on line as of Figure 3, with parts omitted;

Figure 5 is a; central vertical sectional view through a steam valve andassociated means, parts ,in elevation; a

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, the valve being elevated tocontact the disk; and

Figure 'i is tional viewillustrating the use of different size spacingrings and washers and showing the valve in fully elevated position. i

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my. invention, the numeral. 10 designates arailway locomotive of any well known or preferred type. This locomotiveembodies a steam turret 11, as shown. The numeral 12 designates thecylinders of the locomotive, each of which is provided an enlargedfragmentary sec-.

. the locomotive to Figures 1, 2, 3 and l, it will be seen'that thenumeral 16 designates a control apparatus, as a whole, comprising apressure chamber 17, which is preferably cylindrical,

and vertically arranged. The control apparatus is rigidly connected witha horizontal arm 18, which is rigidly secured to a bracket 19, attachedto the guide yoke of or other suitable part thereof.

The numeral 23 designates a partition or wall, forming a chamber 24having at its upper end a vertical opening 25, in com- 1 munication witha pressure supply pipe 26,

as shown. This pressure supply pipe 26 leads to a tank 27, containingcompressed air or other fluid pressure. At its lower end, the chamber'24 has "communication with the chamber 17, through the medium of avertical port 28. At the upper end of the port 28 is a valve seat 29,engaged by a vertically movable valve 30, carried by a vertical de?pending stem 31. This stem projects through a depending guide tube 32and a stufling box'33. A sliding sleeve 34 is apertured for thereception of the stem 31 and is arranged within the lower end of guidetube '32; The lower portion of the stem 31 has a transverse opening forthe reception of a pin 35, contacting with the sliding sleeve 34. Acompressible coil spring 36 surrounds the stem 31 and is confinedbetween the end of the sleeve 3st and a gland 37, projecting into thestufling box 33. l

Arranged within the lower portion of the chamber 17 is a raised portion38, having a verticalport 39, in communication with a receiver pipe 40,as shown. At the upper end of the'port 39 is a valve seat 41, engaged bya vertically movable valve 42, secured to a depending vertical valvestem 43. This valve stem extends through a tubular guide 44, andstuiiing b02145. Surrounding the lower portion of the stem 43is asliding sleeve 46, mounted to reciprocate within the lower portion ofthe tubular guide 4A. The lower end of the stem 43 has a transverseopening formed therein for the reception of a pin 47, as shown. Acompressible coil. spring 4C8 surrounds a portion of the stem 43, and isconfined between the sleeve 46 and a. gland 49.

Means are provided to alternately raise the stems 31 and 43, for openingthe valves carried thereby, such means comprising a swingingarm 50,provided at its upper end with a head 51, having an opening 52 formedvalve, to be described.

1 ,asaeae therein, to pivotally receive a pin 53. This pin is carried bydepending supports 54, rigidly secured to the lower end or" thedepending tubular guides. At its upper end, the swinging arm 50isprovided with lateral extensions 55, havingscrew-threaded openings forthereception of set screws 56 or the like. When the arm 50 is in thevertical position, the screws 56 are both slightly saaced from the lowerends of the valve stems, whereby both valves are closed, and when thearm 50 is swung in either direction the corresponding valve stem iselevated and the valve unseated. However, both valves cannot be open atthe same time.

Pi'votally connected with the lower end of the arm 50 is a link 57,which is pivoted to the radius rod 15, or other movable part of thelocomotive.

Thereceiver pioe iO which leads into the vertical port 39 also connectedwith fluid pressure operated apparatus, comprising a manner to permit ofthe slight escape of fluid pressure bet veen it and'the wall of thecylinder, whereby this fluid pressure may pass to the atmosphere throughthe port 59, but the escape of fluid pressure is not suliicient toprevent the fluid pressure introduced into the lower end of the cylinder53 from elevating the piston 60. in the proper operation of theapparatus. The piston 69 has a vertical stem 61 connected therewith. Thevolume of the receiver pipe 40 and cylinder 58 is suitably proportionedto thevolume of the chamber 17, whereby the valves 30 and 42 preferablyopen a number of times before the pressure in the receiver pipe issutlicientto raise the piston for opening the stem Further, the valves30 and d2 must be alternately opened with suflicient speed to overcomethe loss of pressure due to leakage through the port 59 to theatmosphere, and maintain apressure suiiiciently high to hold the pistonelevated. It is thus seen that the piston will be elevated. and retainedelevated, when the speed of the locomotive exceeds a predetermineddegree,wherebythe steam supply valve is retained permanently open duringsuch operaticn. i

The numeral 62 designates a drifting supply pipe, the r orward end ofwhich is con nected with branch pipes 63, by means of a T-coupling 3%..These branch pipes lead into the steam supply pipes Ll. It is to beunderstood that the invention is in no sense restricted to this preciseconstruction, as it obvious that the forward end of the pipe may beconnected in the steam passage between the main throttle valve and thelocomotive cylinders. The pipe 62 hasits 10pposite end suitablyconnected with the steam turret 11, but it is to be understood that thispipe may be connected with any other suitable source of steam supply.

Connected in the pipe 62 is a valve structure including the casing 65,provided with a valve seat 66, having its opening covered and uncoveredby a vertically movable valve 67 carried by the stem 61. The valve 67 ismoved downwardly by acompressible coil spring 68 and also by the fluidpressure upon the unbalanced area of the upper end or the valve stem 61,to which the valve 67 is rigidly secured. The stem 61 operates within aguide 69. Any steam passing from the casing 65 about the stem 61 throughthe guide 69 discharges to the atmosphere through the port 59.

An opening 70 is formed in the casing 65 directly above and axiallyalined with the valve 67. This opening is provided with screw threads toreceive the threaded lower end of a sleeve 71. The sleeve 71 is providedat its lower end with an internal shoulder 71 forming a reduced bore 72adapted to slidably receive an upper eXten-.

sion 72' of the valve 67. It will be noted by examination of Figure 5that the upper end of the extension 72 of the valve is even with theshoulder 71* of the sleeve 71 when the valve is seated. The main bore ofthe sleeve is provided with internal threads 73 adapted to receive anexternally threaded tubular cap 74. Seated upon the shoulder 71 of thesleeve is a spacing ring 5 upon which is placed a disk 76. Mounted inthe tubular cap 74 and extending between the interior of the upper endthereof is a compresslonsprmg 77. Between the upper end of the sleeve 71and the shoulder 78 of tubular cap is interposed a washer 79. It will beobv1ous that by varylng the thickness of the spacing ring 75 the extentof the initial opening of the valve 67 may be varied and by varyingthethickness of the disk 76 or washer 79 the compression of the spring77 may be varied therebyrnaking adjustable the degree of pressurenecessary in the cylinder 58 to cause the piston to move the valve toits fully opened position. The washer 79 may be omitted if desired.

By means of the construction disclosed.

main throttle, valve partly or wholly open the steam is supplied to thecylinders 12 through the steam pipes 14:, as is well known. Thereciprccatory movement of the rod 15 swings the arm to alternately openone valve. 30 and close the other valve e2. i Vhen the rear valve 30 isopen, compressed air passes from the tank 27 through pipe 26 into thepressure chamber 17 but can not pass therefrom as the forward valve 4-2is closed. When the forward valve 42 is open the rear valve 30 isclosed, whereby the fluid pressure within the chamber 17 discharges intothe receiver pipe lO and the lower end 0]": the cylinder 58. Thisintroduction of pressure within the cylinder 58, when it rises to arequired degree, causes the piston to raise, thereby opening thevalve67. The fluid pressure can slightly escape around the piston 60,but the pressure is intermittently supplied from the chamber 17,suiiiciently rapid when the locomotive is traveling at a predeterminedspeed, to elevate the piston until the upper extension thereof contactsthe dish 76 and to retain the piston elevated and the valve 67 partiallyopen as shown in Figure 6, and a small quantity of the steam from theturret 11 passing through the pipe 62 will discharge into the steampipes i l, and hence into the cylinders 1.2. As the speed of. thelocomotive increases the pressure in the cylinder 58 increases and whenthis pressut-se reaches a predetermined degree the valve is fully openedagainst the action of the springs 68 and 77. The steam is fed throughthe pipe 62 into the cylinders 12 when the throttle is closed in propeamounts to prevent thei'ormation of vacuum therein. This prevention ofthe formation of vacuum. within the cylinders and the exclusion oi airand the liketherefrom prevents the de struction of the lubricant. Thesteam also serves to lubricate the clinders; Particular attention iscalled to the fact that the opening or closingef the valve 67 is" in noway dependent upon the creation or vacuum within the cylinders, as bythe employment of my'apparatus it is impossible for vacuums to occur.

When the speed of the locomotive becomes lower than is required tomaintain fluid pressure in the receiver pipe lO and cylinder 58 at thedegree required to hold piston 66 and valve 67 elevated against theaction of the spring 77, the piston 66 will he forced downward by thecombined action oi? the springs 77 and 68 and the action oi? the steamupon the unbalanced area of the upper end of the valve stem 61. Furtherreduction of the speed or": the locomotive will further reduce pressurein the cylinder and the piston will be forced still further downwardlyby the spring 68 and the action of the steam upon the unbalanced. areaof the upper end of the valve stem 61 and the valve 67 will be closed/This cuts oil the supply of steam through the. pipe 62 to the cylinders.When the locomotive comes to a stop, one or both of the valves 30 and l2are closed, thereby entirely cutting off supply of fluid pressure to thecylinder 58 be neath the piston 60.

It will readily be seen that the amount or pressure supplied to thecylinder 58 is directly proportional to the speed of the locomotive andtherefore the valve 6'? partially opens at a given speed, "fully opensat a predetermined higher speed, partially closes if the speed of thelocomotive drops below this higher speedwand fully closes below thespeed tor the initialopening. all of these actions being automatic;

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit,

of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In apparatus for supplying steam to the cylinders of a locomotivewhile moving, a fluid pressure motor having a slow lealr therein, saidmotor being free from communication with the cylinders of the locomoltive, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said motor in amountsvarying directly with the speed of the locomotive, a steam supplyconduit, a valve in said conduit adapted to beopened by the motor whenthe speed or the locomotive exceeds a predetermined speed, and means forregulating the initial opening of the valve.

2. In apparatus for supplying steam to the cylinders of a locomotivewhile moving, a fluid pressure motor having a slow leak therein, saidmotor being free from communication with the cylinders of thelocomotive, means operated by the fluid pressure motor to supply steamto the cylinders, a

pressure chamber to supply fluid under pres- I sure to-the motor andconnected at all times therewith, means to control the 1nlet and outletof fluid to and fromthe chamber, said control means having positiveconnection with a movable part of the engine to be operated in unisontl'ierewith, said motor being adapted to be set in action when the speedof the locomotive reaches a predetermined point, and means for varyingthe amount of steam delivered to the cylinders at any given speed abovesuch predetermined point.

3. In apparatus ofthe character described, a conduit to supply steam tothe cylinders oi? a locomotive, a valve to control the passage of steamthrough the conduit, a pressure said valve, and a movable member adaptedto alternately open the inlet and outlet valves of the; pressurechamber, said member being connected with a movable part of thelocomotive. Y

i. In apparatus of the character described,

a conduit to supply steam to the cylinders of a locomotive, a valve tocontrol the passage of steam through the conduit, pressure operatedmeans connected with said'valveand adapted to operate it, means forsupplying fluid under pressure to said motor in amounts varying directlywith the speed of the locomotive, means for yieldingly limiting theinitial opening of said valve, and additional means for limiting furtheropeningot said valve.

5. In a device of the character described, a conduit for supplying steamto thecylinders of a locomotive, a valve arrangedin said conduit,pressure operated means to control the ope ing of said valve, means forsup,- plying fluid under pressure to said pressure operated means, saidmeans being connected. to a movable part of the locomotive, saidpressure operated means comprising a cylinder having an opening topermit slow exhaust, a piston arranged in said cylinder,

said piston being provided with a piston rod connected to said valve, aspring arranged in said cylinder and engaging said piston to normallymaintain the piston in inoperative position, means whereby the valve maybe opened a predetermined amount against the tension ot said spring bythe pressure in said cylinder, and additional means to yieldingly retardfurther opening of said valve.

6. In apparatus for supplying steam to the cylinders of a locomotiveWhile in motion, a steam supply conduit, a valve to control the passageof steam through the conduit, a pressure operated motor to actuate saidvalve, said motor including a piston connected to said valve, means forsupplying "fluid underpressure to said motor, said means being connectedto a movable part of the locomotive, asp ring engaging said pis ton tomaintain said valve in a closed position when the pressure in saidcylinder is below a predetermined amount, hollow sleeve arranged abovesaid valve and in axial alinement therewith, said valve being providedwith an extension extending into said sleeve, a spacing ring arranged atthe v bottom of said sleeve, said ring being provided With an openingthrough which the extension passes When the valve is opened, a platearranged above said spacing ring and adapted to engage said extensionwhen the valve is open, and a spring arranged above said plate.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. 1n presence of two Witnesses.

SAMUEL H. LEWIS.

Witnesses Rona. H. TALLEY, ROBERT A. SHEPPARD.

